Method and apparatus for handling track ties



Oct. 22., 1963 v. E. GLos-UP ErAl. 3,107,803

METHOD AND APPARATUS FDR HANDLING TRACK TIES Filed Aug. 19. 1960 'ISheets-Sheet 1 JZZ fraz/en was @d Russ'eZZ EfPa usm.

JWM, 540% 9' v Oct. 22, 1963 v. E. GLosuP ETAL METHOD AND APPARATUS FoxHANDLING TRACK TTEs 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 19, 1960 l2 y 5%. RMS WM/auww Oct. 22, 1963 v. E. GLosUP E-rAL 3,107,803

METROD AND APPARATUS FoR HANDLING TRACK TIES W @QN OWN u l 'IlSheets-Sheet 3 wf'- e @d4/x4 Oct. 22, 1963 v. E. GLosuP ErAL I3,107,803'

METHOD AND APPARATUS FoR HANDLING TRACK TIES Filed Aug. 19. 1960 TSheets-sheet -4 JZZ Oct. 22, 1963 v. E. GLosuP Erm. 3,107,803

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR HANDLING TRACK TIES Filed Agg. 19, 1960 'ISheets-Sheet 5 nvevz Zms' //lyz'l E @Zsp Qa? Russell Eil/)aulsaw Oct.22, 1963 v. E. GLosuP ETAL 3,107,803

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR HANDLING TRACK TIES Filed Aug. 19, 19Go 7Sheets-sheet 6 Oct. 2z, 1963 METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR HANDLING TRACKTIES I 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 SDN Illu" Filed Aug. 19. 1960 JZvem Z073' PZZZ'Zohs'zzyv l @Russel IZaZJw.

3, l @1?,3 @Si Patented Get. 22, 1963 3,107,803 APPARATUS FR HANDLINGTRACK TIES Virgil E. Giosup, 241 Division, Melrose Parli, lill., andRussell E. Paulson, 406 N. Maple Ave., Itasca, Ill.

' Filed Ang. 19, 196 Ser. No. 50,799

I6 Claims. (Cl. 214-520) Our invention relates to the h-andling ofrailroad track ties, and more particularly, to the handling of new tiesprior to their application to a railroad bed.

New track ties are oreosoted after they have Suthciently dried and thecreosoting is done by ybinding the ties into bundles of sufficient sizeto just t into the creosoting tank, and after the bundles are placed inthe tank, they are soaked in boiling oreosioting oil for the prescribedperiod. After the creosotling process has been completed, they aredelivered to the puro Iasing railroad Aby loading them into railroadcars sent to the creosoting plant for that purpose.

Experience has shown that the loading and unloading of the tiesnecessary to transport them to the point of use excessively yaggrandizesthe cost of new ties. is caused by the necessary ybulk of the individualties and the handling problems peculiar to the different types of carsthat are employed to transport the ties.

METHGD ANI) veloprnent lof special cars and equipment involving a car ofthe ties, and a tie handling machine which is percar. One suchdevelopiment relates to a gondoladike yca-r provided with removablesides and a tie kick-out type unloading device forming a permanent partof the car.

However, since on the order of 200 cars suitable for handling ties arerequired 'by any railroad having a moderate amount of tracikage, and theindividual special cars and their tie handling devices represent asubstantial capital investment, this approach has not `been given muchserious consideration by the railroads.

Present practices in this -art call for the use of standard r gondolacars to carry the ties, The railroad ties sends its cars to theoreosoting plant are loaded with ties in accordance with ard loadingprocedures that have been approved for this Such procedures usually callfor the ties being Iapplied to the car in various orisscross patterns,with some 4of the ties standing vertically, the s1des and ends of thecar; furthermore, steel strapping purchasing where the cars `one of thestandthe car, And at the unloading point, of course, much of theunloading must .be done by hand.

IThese special handling requirements necessarily mean that labor andhandling costs rep-resent a sizable portion of the expense of new trackties.

A principal object of this invention is to provide a method andapparatus for handling track ties which permits the ties to be .oadedinto gondola ycars in the bundled form that they are in when removedfrom the creosoting tank, )and which provides a single tie unloadingmachine all the tie carrying cars in line, and which may tbe readilymoved from ear to oar at the unloading site, to provide a system ofhandling track ties involving the 'use of standard gondola cars and atie ear that is inexpensive yof manufacture, convenient 1n use, andreadily adapted for use on standard gondola ears without -any modicationof the latter and regardless of the age or condition of the car.

Other objects, uses and advantages will [be obvious or become apparentfrom a consideration of the following detailed description and theapplication drawings.

In the drawings:

FIGURE l is a side elevational view of one end of a gondola oar showingone embodiment of our tie unloader machine ing track ties therefrom;

FIGURE 2 is asmall scale side elevational View of a train of threegondola cars, showing 'our tie unloading machine as mounted on one ofthe cars for tie unloading purposes;

FIGURE 3 illustrating the is a plan View of a typical gondola carmanne-r -in 'which the ties are loaded in e ycar lin accordance with ourinvention;

FIGURE 3a is a lbundleas it `cornes from the cre'osoting tanks;

of the tie unloading mafbeing broken away to facilitate and with the carbeing shown in broken chine .of FIGURE l, parts illustration, lines;

FIGURE 6 4is a fnagmental sectional View substantially along line l6`6of FIGURE 5, illustrating the tie ejector blade of our machine and theactuating device therefor;

FIGURE 7 is similar to FIGURE 6, but along line 7 7 of FIGURE 5;

FIGURE 8 is a diagrammatic crosssectional view line 8-8 of FIGURE 5;

FIGURE 9 s a cross-sectional view substantially along line 9-9 of FIGURE5;

FIGURE 10 is a tlragmental elevational View substantially along linelil-I0 of FIGURE 5;

FIGURE ll is an elevational View of one of the fork lift tine carrierframes forming a ing machine, as it would be viewed substantially alongline Il ll of FIGURE 5;

FIGURE l2 is a cross-sectional along line I2-I2 of FIGURE 11;

FIGURE 13 is a plan View substantially along line 1313 of FIGURE ll;

FIGURE 14 is a cross-sectional View substantially along line 14-I4 ofFIGURE l1;

FIGURE l5 is a cross-sectional View substantially along line 15-15 ofFIGURE 11;

FIGURE 16 is a cross-sectional View substantially along line 16-16 ofFIGURE 11;

FIGURE 17 is a cross-sectional View along line I7*l7 of FIGURE 4; and

along view substantially substantially applied thereto in the process ofunload-v l diagram illustrating a typical tie q l trated) while FIGUREGENERAL DESCRIPTION Referring now to FIGURES 1, 2 and 3, our inventioncontemplates the use of conventional gondola cars in which theindividual track ties 12 are loaded in accordance with our method at thecreosoting plant for transport to an unloading site where they are to beinstalled in the track bed, and a tie unloading apparatus or machine 14that is employed for purposes of unloading the ties from the cars 1G.

In accordance with our invention, the cars 10 are individually loadedwith the ties 12 by initially forming two rows 16 (see FIGURE 3) of suchties laid end to end on the door 1S of the car, which rows end inabutting relation with spaced spacer members 12a at the ends of the carthat are formed from extra ties that are vertically disposed adjacentthe respective ends 20 and have a spacing sim'lar to that of the tierows 16; the ties forming members 12a are shortened so as not to projectabove the top of gondola car sides.

The ties 12 are then loaded into the car 10 in any convenient manner andall such ties are oriented to extend transversely of the car. The ties12 may be separated from the bundles in which they are creosoted andthen loaded into car 3 by a suitable fork lift truck or overhead crane,or the tie bundles in the form they come from the creosoting tanks maybe loaded directly into the car between the spaced vertically disposedmembers 12a by the aforementioned fork litt truck or overhead crane orother suitable grasping and elevating mechanism. The simplified showingof FIGURE 3 is intended to represent a typical car load of bundled ties(it is obvious how unbundled ties would appear in plan in a car 10 sothis loading arrangement is not specifically illus- 3a is arepresentation of a typical tie bundle 13 per se, in which thirty-fourties 12 are bound together by steel strapping 15 in any conventionalmanner.

Of course, the ties are loaded into the car to a height commensuratewith safe loading practices considering the height of the gondola sidewalls Z2.

The cars 1li are then transported to the tie unloading site, and this iscustomarily done by connecting a number of cars 10 in a train, whichtrain would also include a gondola car 10a (see FIGURE 2) on which thetie unloading apparatus or machine 14 is secured as by employingsuitable tie down devices. Car 10a should be the last car in any trainof gondola cars 10, and only about one half of the car (the lett handhalf in the showing of FIGURE 2) is loaded with ties, with the machine14 being secured over the empty portion of the car (tie rows 16 andspacer members 12a being employed in the loaded end of car 10a in themanner already described).

The unloading site to which cars 1li are transferred ordinarily is anarea of the track which is being improved as by replacing existing trackties, and the ties to be replaced customarily will have been previouslymarked. After the train of cars 10 and 10a have been brought to thebeginning of the trackage Where the existing ties are to be removed, thetie down devices anchoring tie unloading machine 14 in place are removedand the machine readied for use.

The tie unloading machine 14 generally comprises a wheeled trarne 50(see FIGURES 1 and 5) provided with double ilanged wheels 32 and 32athat are thus formed to laterally conine frame 3i) in its movements ontop ofthe car side walls 22.

The wheeled frame Sil carries a fork lift frame 34, which is at itsforward end swingably movable between the full and broken line positionsof FIGURE l and which deiines spaced 'guideways 36 for tine carryingframes 3S that each pivotally mount a tine or prong member 40 mountedfor swinging movement between the two positions indicated by FIGURES 18and 19. The forli litt frame also has associated therewith a tieejector. device 42 which is mounted on machine 14 at a level that willbe above the tops of the car side walls 22 (see FIGURE 1), when themachine is in operative position on the cars, and includes areciprocably mounted paddle member or ejector blade 44, which is mountedfor reciprocating movement over a distance corresponding to but somewhatgreater than the distance between the sides of a car 10 (see FIGURE 5).

In the illustrated embodiment, the fork lift frame 34 may be pivoted orswung with respect -to the wheeled frame 39 by appropriately operating ahydraulic multi telescoping cylinder or ram 5t) interposed between theframe 34 and the wheeled frame somewhat as indicated in the drawings.The tine carrier frames 38 are reciprocated vertically in theirguideways 36 by appropriate hydraulic cylinders 52 mounted within therespective guideways 36 and connected to the respective tine carriertrames. The tine carrier frames each carry an appropriate hydrauliccylinder 54 for moving the tines between the positions alreadymentioned.

The illustrated unloading device 14 also includes a rake device 56,including an extensible rake member 57, for drawing individual tiestoward the tie ejector device after they have been elevated by theunloader machine, a pair of hydraulically operated clamping devices SS(see FIGURE 9) for clamping the machine to the car during operation ofthe fork litt structure, a ysuitable braking arrangement such as thatgenerally indicated at 60 in FIGURE l, and a tie ejection movementcontrol device 62 (see FIGURES 8 and l0) carried by each side of thefork lift frame 34 (see FIGURES). It is also contemplated that themachine 14 will be provided with a suitable operators seat64 (see FIGURE5), indicated at 66 a power unit such as a gasoline engine but onlydiagrammatically illustrated, a suitable pump 63 (see FIGURE 5) operatedby motor 66 for drawing hydraulic liquid froman appropriate reservoir 76and supplying it to hydraulic motor 72 for purposes of moving the caralong the tops of the side walls of cars 10 (as well as the hydrauliccylinder herein described), and suitable conduiting and valving forselectively supplying hydraulicY liquid to the individual ramsindicated, all of which may be done in a more or less conventional;

manner.

After the machine 14 has been released from its t-ieV and it is moved asrequired (by employing hydraulic motor 72) to first unload any tiescarried by car 10a. After roughly properly positioning the machine -withrespect to the ties of car 10a to be unloaded, ram 50 is actuated toswing the tork lift frame 34 from its horizontal inoperative position toits vertical operative position of FIG- URE 1; also, rams S2 areoperated to fully extend tine carrier frame 38 to the llower brokenIline position of FIGURE 1 and tine carrier rams S4 are operated to movethe tine members 4() from the broken vline position of `FIGURE 17 to`the `i'ull line position of the same figura This disposes tine 4members4d between tie rows 16 of car 10a and below the level of ,the ties 12carried thereby. The machine 14- is then moved :forwardly (to the leftof FIGURE 2) to dispose tine members 40t-under neath the nearest ties112, after which clamping devices S8 are set against the car side wallsand the tie carrier trames are retracted to draw :the ties 12 to thelevel of ejector device 42.

It the ties 12 have not yet been separated from their bundles, this maybe done at this point in the handling of the ties. An employee may thustake a suitable tool and sever the steel bands 15 that are ordinarilyemployed for binding the fties together in the aforesaid bundl 13.

Assuming that the ties are 'free from binding engagement with each otherfor ejection over the side of the car, and that the ejector blade 44 wasinitially positioned approximately above one or the other of fthe sides22 of the car being unloaded (see FIGURE 5), lfor instance, the lefthand side of the car in the showing of -FIGURE 5, one `of the ties willnow be within operating ran-geef Ithe reciprocat-in-g ejector `blade 44and if this is not so, the for-k lift frame 3'4 may be tilted .in -themanner in- Idicated by the inclined broken line show-ing of FIGUREAssuming that the ties are to be dropped over the right hand car side 22in the showing of FIGURE 5,

The tie unloading operation is commenced by the train including cars land 10a being moved at approximately a walking speed from the beginningof 'the trackage being covered with a designated individual lwalkingalongside the train and pointing out the location of ties previously endlof the tie being ejected into the device 62, which is in the form of agenerally quadrilateral tube 90` having an open upper end 92, a loweropen end 94 and a concave guiding surface 96 extending between the twoopen ends. As the tie 12 is moved 'to the right of FIGURE 5, it entersthe open end 92 yof device `62, engages guiding surface 96 =(see FIGURE8), and angles downwardly to =be dropped on in FIGURE 5. the tiemovement control device 62 restrains the movement Iof the tie as itdrops to the `ground and insures that the tie will not bounce and roll-away from the track, but rather drop to the ground in a controlledmanner :and lie longitudinally of the I`track `due to the restrainingaction of the device 62 yon the trailing end of the tie. As the trainmoves during the tie unloading process, the tie will fall -to the trackbed somewhat yas indicated in FIGURE 10.

Further ties are handled in like manner until all `of the ties supportedby the tine members 40' have been ejected `over the side lof the car.

After all of the ties `carried by tie members 40 have been ejected overthe side of the car, xthe cylinders 52 lar to that described above.

As forward movement `of the wheeled frame 30 is required to bring thelfork flift frame 34 inserted in the space 80 (see FIGURE 3) at the endof the car between the two vertical spacer members 12a with tine members40 retracted to the broken line position yof FIGURE 17 (and thus in theplane of the fork lift frame 34). The hydraulic rams 52 are to Ilowerthe tine carrier frames are below the level of lthe ties after whichrams 514 are operated to move the tine members `4t) to ythe full linepositions of FIGURES 17 and 18, which d-isposes them underneath theadjacent ties 12, after which rams 52 may be operated to idraw the tiesadjacent spacer members 12a )to the elevation of the ejector device 42for ejection in the manner already described. Further unloading of tiesproceeds until the I'rst car 10 is empty, ater which the wheeled iframe30 is driven yover similar bridge members 28 applied between adjacentcars 10 as unloading of the respective cars proceeds to the point wheresuch a crossing is necessary. This procedure continues until all the newties required have been ejected from the train.

When the tie unloading operation is completed, machine 14 is ydrivenback to its initial position on car lItla and again made tast theretofor transit to another unloading site or to a creosoting plant foranother load of ties. Since fork lift yframe 34 may be moved to thehorizontal position shown in phantom in FIGURE 1 and tine members 4@retracted to the bnoken position of -FIG- URE 17, machine 14 is disposedwell within permissible heights permitted railroad cars.

Our tie unloader device is preferably arranged to drop the tiesalongside the track approximately 8 feet from the then operated 38-until tine members 40 12 resting on tie rows I6,

ing position already mentioned; renewals are most frequently required atthe rail joints, ties will be unloaded at least about every 19 feetalong the right of way, but frequently more extensive replacements willbe made and our machine satisfies this requirement with facility. Wecontemplate that the rated unloading rate the .two wheels marked 32a areslidably connected t0 the wheeled frame (see FIGURES 5 and 9) to permitthe wheels to follow the bowing out SPECIFIC DESCRIPTION The cars It?and 10a employed in practicing our method Similar remarks apply to ercar structure illustrated.

bridging members 23 may be n the form of elongate bars 106 having achannel-shaped cross section, with the bars .M6 Xed between adjacentrespective side walls suitable clamps or bolts.

The wheeled frame 30 of machine 14 may be of any secured to the wheeled112, with the inner frame members 110 being braced by transverselyextending member 114. The forward wheels 32 and 32a are keyed to acommon shaft 116 that is rotatably mounted in suitable plain bearings(not shown) frame in any convenient manner that will prevent twisting ofthe shaft 116. vThe rearward wheels 32 and 32a are keyed to individualshafts 117 rotatably secured to the frame in like manner. AThe shaft 116and the shaft 117 mounting a wheel 32a are splined or grooved whereindicated at 118, with the wheels 32a being complementarily formed toprovide the aforementioned sliding keying relation between these wheelsand the respective shafts. The shaft 116 and the splined shaft 117 maybe provided with suitable pins 120 to retain the wheels 32a in place.The wheels of frame 30 thus have a variable gauge to follow the contourof the car side walls 22, which in some cases may vary considerably,depending on the condition of the car.

The operators seat, the internal combustion engine 66, the pump 68, thereservoir 7i), the hydraulic motor 72 and other supplementary equipmentmay be arranged upon and around the frame 30 as may be necessary ordesirable.

The guideways 36 of the fork lift frame 34 are defined by channelmembers 122-arranged in back to back pairs (see FIGURE Cylinder 52 ofeach guideway is secured between the respective pairs of channel members122 by a suitable pin 124 at the tops of the respective guideways 36.

In the area of the ejector device 42, the channel-shaped members arejoined together by median channel members 126 (see FIGURES 5 and 6) andprojecting laterally of each guideway, are the like horizontallydisposed end channel members 12S, with the channel members 126 and 128being joined together by elongate plates 136 (see FIGURES 4-7). Thechannel members 122 are preferably joined adjacent the top of therespective guideways 36 by brace plate 132. Ram 50 in the arrangementillustrated is pivoted to one of the guideways 36, as by employing thebracket structure diagrammatically illustrated at 134, the ram beingpivotally mounted on a suit able support 135 that is secured to frame 30in any suitable manner, as by welding. Of course, the ram 50 may bepositioned transversely of the car as seems necessary or desirable toaccommodate the equipment that is to be carried by the wheeled frame aswell as the drivers seat and still permit the swinging action of thefork lift frame that is desired.

The fork lift frame 34 is pivoted to the wheeled frame 3i) by pivotplates 133 aixed to the outer of the channel members 122 of eachguideway 36 and journalled on shaft 116 by suitable plain bearings 140.Plates 138 should be of sucient length that frame 34 may be horizontallydisposed when machine is not in use or when it is to be moved from onecar to another.

The structural features of the tine carrier frames 38 are bestillustrated in FIGURES 11-16 and it will be noted that they eachcomprise in the illustrated embodiment spaced channel members 144 joinedtogether by spacer plates 146 all welded together to form a rigid unit.Wear plates 148 are preferably afxed to the corners of the channelmembers 144 somewhat as indicated in FIGURE and are suitablyproportioned to insure the desired movement of the tine carrier frameswithin the respective guideways 36.

Each of the tine carrier frames at their lower ends has afixed thereto afabricated tine pivot structure 150 (see FIGURES 14 and 16) defined byplates 152, 153, 154 and 155, which are welded to the lower ends of thechannel members 144 at the upper ends of the former, and are weldedtogether by the spaced web plates 156 and 157 indicated in FIGURE 12.The plates 156 and 157 are formed with appropriate holes 158 to receivethe piston rod 166 of the respective hydraulic cylinders 52,

which rods may priate nuts 162.

The plates 152-155 are slotted as indicated as 164, 166, 168 and 170 inFIGURE 14 to accommodate the movement of the tine member 4i) indicatedin FIGURES 18 and 19, and it will thus be seen that slots 164 and 166merge together to form a single opening, as do slots 168 and 17 0.

The individual tine members are shaped as required to best support theties to be lifted and are formed with appropriate holes 172 to receivethe respective piston rods 169 of rams 52. Members 4G thus comprise aforwardly extending tine or prong portion 174 and a rearwardly extendingcrank arm 176 which in accordance with the present invention has aixedthereto a lug 178 that is disposed at right angles to the respectivetine members 40 and is pivotally connected at its projecting end 179 tothe piston rod 180 of the respective rams 54, Rams 54 are carried by thetine support frames by being pivoted' between spaced carrier plates 182,which are affixed to a channel member 184 that is in turn welded to thetine pivot structures 150 of the respective tine carrier frames.

Channel members 134 186.

The tie ejector paddle or blade 44 in the illustrated embodiment iscomposed of two angle members 190 (see FIGURE 5) having their anges 192fixed together in any suitable manner to define the outwardly projectingblade portion 193 and having their flanges 194 (see FIGURE 4) receivedin a guideway 196 deinedkby the adjacent plate 136 and upper and lowerguide bars 197 and 198, which are respectively provided with lips 199may be braced by appropriate webs to properly restrain the ejector bladefrom movement out of the guideway 196.

rlhe ejector blade 44 in the illustrated embodiment is affixed to theflexible endless member 201) which in the j form illustrated is a chain202 trained over end sprockets 203 and 204 aixed to the respective stubshafts 206 and 208 that are journalled by the respective spaced'pairs ofchannel members 128. As indicated in FIGURES 5 and 6, the chain 292 isalso trained over a sprocket 210 which is keyed to a shaft 212 that isjournalled between space plates 214 and 216 aflixed to the respectivechannel members 126, which shaft 212 also has keyed thereto a pinion 218that meshes with a rack member 220 connected to the piston rod 222 of ahydraulic ram 224 carried by the fork lift frame 34 as by being pivotedbetween a plate 226k aixed to the upper channel member 128 at the lefthand j t side of the machine as shown in FIGURE 5 and an angle member228 are Xed immediately below the plate 226.

Of course, when the ram member 220 engages pinion 218 to turn thesprocket 210, which effects actuation of endless member 200 and theconsequent member movement of ejector blade 44. The gearing and chaintraining arrangement should be such that the ejector blade 44 can bemoved between the sides 22 of the car as the ram 224 is operated betweenits extreme extended and contracted positions.

The tie ejection movement control devices 62 are swingably secured toeither side of the fork lift frame for movement between the upperretracted position of FIG- URE 8 and the lower operative positionindicated by thesame figure. The quadrilateral tubular member preferablyhas aiixed thereto as by welding a round bar 230 which is received in asleeve 232 welded to the spaced upright channel members 234 that areaflixed to the respective pairs of plates at either end of the frame 34.The tube 9@ comprises forward and rearward planar walls 236, the planarside Wall 238 and the arcuate wall 239 which defines the concave guidingsurface 96, all rigidly connected together in any convenient manner, asby weldt be affixed in place by employing approi 224 is reciprocated,rack 9 in the lower operative position of devices 62 (see FIG- URES and8.)

It will thus be seen that the devices 62 not only guide the tie as itdrops to the ground,

brake shoes 266 by appropriate links 26S and 270.

Rake device 56 comprises ram 280 having its piston rod aihxec to rakehead 282 to define rake member 57. Ram 56 is pivotally connected to oneof the guideprime mover.

Distinguishing Characteristics 0f the Invention It will therefore beseen that our invention provides a number of important advantages in theart of handling For instance, the cars used to transport the Since thegauge of the frame wheels of machine 14 is adapted to adjust itself tothe conguration of the gondola car side Walls, any deformation of suchside walls within reasonable limits will required being in thepositioning of the ties 12a and those forming the support rows 16. Theties thus may be taken as they come from the creosoting tanks and loadedby appropriate mechanized devices directly into the gondola cars thatare to carry the use.

lt).` For convenience, ties "12a and those forming rows 16 may be anyevent, they form supponts are so referred to in some of the appendedclaims. Of course, ties 12a and those forming rows lo are spaced apartto receive the fork lift frame 34 and its tine members 40.

The foregoing description and the drawings are given merely to explainand illustrate our invention and the means for reciprocating said tinestructures, said tine members each being tween substantially parallelpositions and positions wherein they are in alignment with each other,and a tie ejector mechanism carried by said fork lift structure andincluding means for sliding ties 'carried by said tine members, when intheir first mentioned positions, from said tine members over the side ofthe car.

2. Apparatus for unloading track ties from gondola cars having a loadingarrangement in which the ties eX- tend crosswise of the car and rest onspaced supports that extend longitudinally of the car and at one end ofthe car the ties bear against spaced vertically disposed supports thatare interposed between the ties and the end of the car, said apparatuscomprising a Iwheeled frame to commence 'the car side Walls, and

frames elevated lifting the ties above fthe level of means carried bysaid fork lift frame for sliding the ties.

over the side of the car.

3. Apparatus or unloading track ties from gondola cars having a loadingarrangement in which the ties extend and at one end of the car the tiesbear against spaced vertically disposed supports that are interposedbetween the ties and the end of the car, said apparatus comprising awheeled frame adapted to ride on the tops of the `sides of the car, saidframe can-ying a fork lift `structure including spaced coplanar parallellguideways, a tine carrierv 'frame reciprocably mounted in each of saidguideways, said guideways being xed together and secured to said wheeledframe to detine a fork lift frame that is disposed transversely of thecar when the wheeled frame rests on the car side walls, said fork liftframe being secured to said wheeled frame for swinging movement about iasubstantially horizontal axis, power means for swinging ysaid fork liftframe about said horizontal axis and for maintaining said fork liftframe against such swinging movement, power means carried by said forklift frame for reciprocating said tine carrier frames, each of said tinecarrier frames carrying a tine member mounted for pivotal movement aboutan axis extending longitudinally of the respective guideways, powermeans carried by said fork lift frame for swinging said tine me bersabout said axes thereof between positions in alignment with the plane ofsaidfork lift frame to positions disposed normally of said plane andextending in the same direction from said plane and away from saidwheeled frame, said fork lift frame being proportioned for insertionbetween the ties and the vertically disposed supports at the end of thecar whereby when said tine members are disposed in alignment with saidplane of said fork lift Aframe, said -fork lift lframe may be insertedbetween said ties and the vertically disposed supports at .the end ofthe car, to permit said tine carrier frames to be lowered to disposesaid tine members below said ties, whereupon said tine members may bemoved to their last mentioned positions and Isaid tine carrier frameselevated to commence lifting the .ties above the level of the car sidewalls, and power means carried by said fork lift frame for sliding theties over the side of the car after the ties have been lifted above theside of lthe car.

4. The apparatus set forth in claim 3 wherein the wheels of said wheeledframe are double flanged, and including means for journalling saidwheels on said frame for permitting said wheels to follow the lateralcontour of the respective tops of the car side walls when the apparatusis in operative position on the car.

5. The `apparatus set forth in claim 3 wherein said fork lift frame hassecured thereto above the last mentioned power means a rake deviceincluding a retractable and extensible rake element that projects overthe ties when said apparatus is in operative position on the car, saiddevice being mounted for swinging movement about a substantiallyhorizontal axis, and including power means for raising and lowering saidrake device about said horizontal axis.

6. The apparatus set forth in claim 3 wherein the last mentioned powermeans comprises a tie ejector guideway affixed to said fork lift framenormally of the first mentioned guideways, said t-ie ejector guidewayhaving a length that exceeds the length of the ties adapted to beemployed in said loading arrangement, said tie ejector guideway beingcentered on said fork lift frame, a tie ejector blade slidably mountedin said -tie ejector guideway for movement over substantially the lengthof the latter, said tie ejector blade projecting normally of said planeof said fork lift frame and away from said wheeled frame, and powermeans for moving said blade longitudinally of said tie ejector guideway.

7. The apparatus set forth in claim 6 wherein said fork lift framecarries at one side thereof a tie chu-te structure, said chute structurecomprising a tubular rnember having one of its open ends secured to saidfork lift frame for alignment with the path of movement of said tieejector blade and the other of its ends adapted to depend from said forklift frame, said tubular member including an inner concave cammingsurface opposing said one end thereof and leading to said other endthereof, whereby a tie moved over the side of the car by said ejectorlblade has a controlled drop to the track bed through said tubularmember. a

8. The apparatus set forth in claim 3 including a clamping arm pivotallysecured to either -side of said wheeled frame and having one end thereofproportioned to engage against the respective sides of the car, andpower means for pressing said one end of said arms into engagement withthe respective sides, whereby said wheeled frame may be clamped to thecar during operation of said apparatus. Y

9. The apparatus set lforth in claim 3 wherein said tine carrier frameguideways each comprise spaced elongate members secured together inparallel relation, and wherein said tine carrier frames each comprisespaced elongate members secured together in parallel relation andslidably mounted within the respective ways, with the power means forreciprocating said tine carrier frames each comprising a ram securedwithin the upper ends of the respective tine carrier frame guideways andincluding a piston rod afxed to the respective carrier frames.

lO. The appartaus set forth in claim 3 wherein said tine carrier frameseach include a laterally directed arm affixed to the -lower end thereofand in alignment with the plane of said fork lift frame, and a ramconnected between said 4arm and the tine of the respective carrierframes, said rams forming said power means for swinging said tinemembers.

ll. Apparatus for unloading railroad track ties from gondola carscomprising a vehicle including wheel means for mounting the Vehiclegondola car for movement longitudinally of the car, fork lift meanscarried by said vehicle for lifting ties'above the top of the car sidewalls and including a plurality of spaced tine members mounted forreciprocable movement between positions adjacent the vehicle andpositions adjacent the iloor of the car when the vehicle is on the carand said fork lift means is in operative position with respect thereto,means for selectively reciprocating said tine members between saidpositions, said tine members each being mounted for swinging movementbetween substantially parallel positions and positions wherein they arein substantial alignment, and a tie ejector mechanism carried by saidvehicle and including tie ejecting means for moving, longitudinallythereof and over the top of one side wall of the car, ties carried bysaid tine members when such ties have been raised above the top of saidcar side walls.

12. The apparatus set forth in claim l wherein said tine members aremounted in a guideway structure that is pivotally connected to the saidvehicle adjacent one end thereof for movement between a substantiallyvertical operative position and a substantially horizontal inoperativeposition overlying the vehicle.

13. The apparatus set forth in claim l wherein said vehicle carries atone side thereof a tie chute structure, said chute structure comprisinga tubular member having one of its open ends secured to said vehicle foralignment with the path of movement of ties when ejected by said tieejector means and the other of its ends adapted to depend from saidvehicle, said tubular member including an inner concave camming surfaceopposing said o ne end thereof and leading to said other end thereof,whereby a tie moved over the side of the car by said ejector mechanismhas a controlled drop to the track bed through said tubular member f 14.The method of loading and unloading railroadk ties from a gondola car ofthe type comprising ixed side and end walls, which method includesforming at least two spaced rows of ties in end to end relation alongthe door of the car substantially between the ends thereof, placing atleast two ties against one end of the car in an upstanding spacedrelation, filling the car with ties by placing same in the car crosswiseof said rows of ties,

transporting the car to the destination of the ties, and un- Y loadingthe ties by inserting a tie lifting tool from 'the tine carrier frameguideon top of the side walls of a 13 top of the car down into the spacebetween the said two ties at said one end of the car and under adjacentcrosswise extending ties, lifting such ties above the top of the sidewalls of the car, consecutively ejecting such ties one that they engagethe ground in a substantially vertical position 16. The method set forthin claim 15 wherein the car is moved at walking speed at the ties arebeing ejected '1.4k References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITEDSTATES PATENTS 992,594 Reinehr May 16, 1911 1,802,220 Romine Apr. 21,1931 2,061,110 Stauter Nov. 17, 1936 2,381,958 Inman Aug. 14, 19452,467,113 Deiters Apr. 12, 1949 2,622,540 Stewart et al. Dec. 23, 19522,721,668 Elsner Oct. 25, 1955 2,761,571 Adams Sept. 4, 1956 2,768,760Pilch Oct. 20, 1956 2,801,014 Colson July 30, 1957 3,044,614 Code July17, 1962 3,048,289 Franklin et al. Aug. 7, 1962 OTHER REFERENCES RulesGoverning the Loading of Commodities on Open Top Cars, published by theAssociation of American Chicago (1945), page 217.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 31 107,803 October 22, 1963 Vir-gil E. Glosup et al.

s '1n the above numbered patrtfed that error appear tters Patent Shouldread as lt s hereby ce tion and that the said Le enfJ requiring correacorrected below.

Column l2, lines 4T and 53, for the claim reference numeral l", eachoccurrence, read ll column l3, line 18, for "at", second occurrence,read as and sealed this 21st day of April 1964.

Signed (SEAL) Attest:

ERNEST W. SWIDER EDWARD J. BRENNER Attestng Ufficer Commissioner ofPatents

11. APPARATUS FOR UNLOADING RAILROAD TRACK TIES FROM GONDOLA CARSCOMPRISING A VEHICLE INCLUDING WHEEL MEANS FOR MOUNTING THE VEHICLE ONTOP OF THE SIDE WALLS OF A GONDOLA CAR FOR MOVEMENT LONGITUDINALLY OFTHE CAR, FORK LIFT MEANS CARRIED BY SAID VEHICLE FOR LIFTING TIES ABOVETHE TOP OF THE CAR SIDE WALLS AND INCLUDING A PLURALITY OF SPACED TINEMEMBERS MOUNTED FOR RECIPROCABLE MOVEMENT BETWEEN POSITIONS ADJACENT THEVEHICLE AND POSITIONS ADJACENT THE FLOOR OF THE CAR WHEN THE VEHICLE ISON THE CAR AND SAID FORK LIFT MEANS IS IN OPERATIVE POSITION WITHRESPECT THERETO, MEANS FOR SELECTIVELY RECIPROCATING SAID TINE MEMBERSBETWEEN SAID POSITIONS, SAID TINE MEMBERS EACH BEING MOUNTED FORSWINGING MOVEMENT BETWEEN SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL POSITIONS AND POSITIONSWHEREIN THEY ARE IN SUBSTANTIAL ALIGNMENT, AND A TIE EJECTOR MECHANISMCARRIED BY SAID VEHICLE AND INCLUDING TIE EJECTING MEANS FOR MOVING,LONGITUDINALLY THEREOF AND OVER THE TOP OF ONE SIDE WALL OF THE CAR,TIES CARRIED BY SAID TINE MEMBERS WHEN SUCH TIES HAVE BEEN RAISED ABOVETHE TOP OF SAID CAR SIDE WALLS.